Circuit and method for processing signals generated by a plurality of sensors

ABSTRACT

An electronic circuit includes a plurality of sensing elements configured to generate a plurality of sensing element signals. The electronic circuit also includes a control signal generator configured to generate a plurality of control signals. The electronic circuit also includes a combining circuit. The combining circuit includes a plurality of switching circuits. Each switching circuit is configured to generate a respective switching circuit output signal being representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the plurality of sensing element signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals. The combining circuit also includes a summing circuit coupled to receive the switching circuit output and configured to generate a summed output signal corresponding to a sum of the switching circuit output signals.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to processing of output signals generated by sensors, more particularly, to processing of a plurality of output signals generated by a plurality of sensors in a way that can result in an improved output signal, for example, an improved output signal from an angle sensor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, sensing elements are used in a variety of applications to sense characteristics of an environment. Sensing elements include, but are not limited to, pressure sensing elements, temperature sensing elements, light sensing elements, acoustic sensing elements, and magnetic field sensing elements.

Magnetic field sensing elements can be used in a variety of applications. In one application, a magnetic field sensor can be used to detect a direction of a magnetic field. In another application, a magnetic field sensing element can be used to sense an electrical current. One type of current sensor uses a Hall effect magnetic field sensing element in proximity to a current-carrying conductor.

Planar Hall elements and vertical Hall elements are known types of magnetic field sensing elements that can be used in magnetic field sensors. A planar Hall element tends to be responsive to magnetic field perpendicular to a surface of a substrate on which the planar Hall element is formed. A vertical Hall element tends to be responsive to magnetic field parallel to a surface of a substrate on which the vertical Hall element is formed.

Other types of magnetic field sensing elements are known. For example, a so-called “circular vertical Hall” (CVH) sensing element, which includes a plurality of vertical magnetic field sensing elements, is known and described in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008056517, entitled “Magnetic Field Sensor for Measuring Direction of a Magnetic Field in a Plane,” filed May 28, 2008, and published in the English language as PCT Publication No. WO 2008/145662, which application and publication thereof are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. The CVH sensing element is a circular arrangement of vertical Hall elements arranged over a common circular implant region in a substrate. The CVH sensing element can be used to sense a direction (and optionally a strength) of a magnetic field in a plane of the substrate.

Output signals from the vertical Hall elements of a CVH sensing element are typically generated sequentially, resulting in a substantial time necessary to generate all of the output signals from the CVH sensing element.

Various parameters characterize the performance of sensing elements (and sensors that use magnetic field sensing elements) in general, and magnetic field sensing elements (and sensors) in particular. Taking a magnetic field sensing element as an example, these parameters include sensitivity, which is a change in an output signal of a magnetic field sensing element in response to a change of magnetic field experienced by the magnetic sensing element, and linearity, which is a degree to which the output signal of the magnetic field sensing element varies in direct proportion to the magnetic field. These parameters also include an offset, which is characterized by an output signal from the magnetic field sensing element not representative of a zero magnetic field when the magnetic field sensing element experiences a zero magnetic field. Other types sensing elements can also have an offset of a respective output signal that is not representative of a zero sensed characteristic when the sensing element experiences the zero sensed characteristic.

It would be desirable to provide circuits that can process sensor output signals from a plurality of sensors to provide a processed output signal having improved characteristics, including, but not limited to, an improved offset.

It would also be desirable to provide a CVH sensing element arrangement for which the output signals from the CVH sensing element are generated more quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides circuits that can process sensor output signals from a plurality of sensors to provide a processed output signal having improved characteristics.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an electronic circuit includes a plurality of sensors configured to generate a corresponding plurality of sensor signals. The electronic circuit also includes a control signal generator configured to generate a plurality of control signals. Each control signal comprises a first state and a second different state at different times. At a first time, a first selected set of the plurality of control signals is in the first state and a second selected set of the plurality of control signals different than the first selected set is in the second state. At a second different time, a third selected set of the plurality of control signals is in the first state and a fourth selected set of the plurality of control signals different than the third selected set is in the second state. The electronic circuit also includes a combining circuit. The combining circuit includes a plurality of switching circuits, each switching circuit coupled to receive a respective one of the plurality of sensor signals and coupled to receive a respective one of the plurality of control signals. Each switching circuit is configured to generate a respective switching circuit output signal being representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the plurality of sensor signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals. The combining circuit also includes a summing circuit coupled to receive the switching circuit output signals from the plurality of switching circuits and configured to generate a summed output signal corresponding to a sum of the switching circuit output signals.

In some embodiments of the electronic circuit, the sensors are comprised of a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged in a circular vertical Hall element (CVH) structure over a common implant region in a common substrate.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method includes generating a plurality of sensor signals with a corresponding plurality of sensors. The method also includes generating a plurality of control signals. Each control signal comprises a first state and a second different state at different times. At a first time, a first selected set of the plurality of control signals is in the first state and a second selected set of the plurality of control signals different than the first selected set is in the second state. At a second different time, a third selected set of the plurality of control signals is in the first state and a fourth selected set of the plurality of control signals different than the third selected set is in the second state. The method also includes generating a plurality of switching circuit output signals, each switching circuit output signal being representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the plurality of sensor signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals. The method also includes generating a summed output signal corresponding to a sum of the switching circuit output signals.

In some embodiments of the method, the sensors are comprised of a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged in a circular vertical Hall element (CVH) structure over a common implant region in a common substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the invention, as well as the invention itself may be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial showing a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element having a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged in a circle over a common implant region and a two pole magnet disposed close to the CVH sensing element;

FIG. 1A is a pictorial showing a plurality of sensing elements (or alternatively, sensors), for example, Hall elements, planar or vertical;

FIG. 2 is a graph showing an output signal as may be generated by the CVH sensing element of FIG. 1 or by the sensing elements of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a magnetic field sensor including the CVH sensing element of FIG. 1 and having a combining circuit and a b control signal generator;

FIG. 4 is block diagram showing an exemplary combining circuit that can be used as the combining circuit of FIG. 3, which includes switching circuits and a summing circuit;

FIG. 5 is a series of graphs showing behavior of exemplary b_(n) control signals generated by the b_(n) control signal generator of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary b_(n) control signal generation circuit that can be used as the b_(n) control signal generator of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6A is a series of graphs showing behavior of b_(n) control signals generated by the b_(n) control signal generator of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing at least an exemplary combining circuit that can be used as the combining circuit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an exemplary output signal from the switching circuits of FIG. 4 for particular b_(n) control signals;

FIG. 8A is a graph showing another exemplary output signal from the switching circuits of FIG. 4 for different b_(n) control signals;

FIG. 9 is a graph showing an exemplary output signal from the combining circuit of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a side view of a part of a CVH sensing element, which can be used to provide continuous output signals from a plurality of vertical Hall elements, either with or without chopping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the present invention, some introductory concepts and terminology are explained. As used herein, the term “sensing element” is used to describe a variety of types of electronic elements that can sense a characteristic of the environment. For example, sensing elements include, but are not limited to, pressure sensing elements, temperature sensing elements, light sensing elements, acoustic sensing elements, and magnetic field sensing elements.

As used herein, the term “sensor assembly” is used to describe a circuit or assembly that includes a sensing element and other components. In particular, as used herein, the term “magnetic field sensor assembly” is used to describe a circuit or assembly that includes a magnetic field sensing element and electronics coupled to the magnetic field sensing element.

As used herein, the term “sensor” is used to describe either a sensing element or a sensor assembly.

As used herein, the term “magnetic field sensing element” is used to describe a variety of electronic elements that can sense a magnetic field. The magnetic field sensing elements can be, but are not limited to, Hall effect elements, magnetoresistance elements, or magnetotransistors. As is known, there are different types of Hall effect elements, for example, a planar Hall element, a vertical Hall element, and a circular Hall element. As is also known, there are different types of magnetoresistance elements, for example, a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) element, an anisotropic magnetoresistance element (AMR), a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) element, an Indium antimonide (InSb) sensor, and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ).

As is known, some of the above-described magnetic field sensing elements tend to have an axis of maximum sensitivity parallel to a substrate that supports the magnetic field sensing element, and others of the above-described magnetic field sensing elements tend to have an axis of maximum sensitivity perpendicular to a substrate that supports the magnetic field sensing element. In particular, planar Hall elements tend to have axes of sensitivity perpendicular to a substrate, while magnetoresistance elements and vertical Hall elements (including circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing elements) tend to have axes of sensitivity parallel to a substrate.

Magnetic field sensors are used in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, an angle sensor that senses an angle of a direction of a magnetic field, a current sensor that senses a magnetic field generated by a current carried by a current-carrying conductor, a magnetic switch that senses the proximity of a ferromagnetic object, a rotation detector that senses passing ferromagnetic articles, for example, magnetic domains of a ring magnet, and a magnetic field sensor that senses a magnetic field density of a magnetic field.

While a circular vertical Hall (CVH) magnetic field sensing element, which has a plurality of vertical Hall magnetic field sensing elements, is described in examples below, it should be appreciated that the same or similar techniques and circuits apply to any type of sensing elements or any type of sensor assemblies, i.e., to any type of sensors.

Referring to FIG. 1, a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element 12 includes a circular implant region 18 having a plurality of vertical Hall elements disposed thereon, of which a vertical Hall element 12 a is but one example. Each vertical Hall element has a plurality of Hall element contacts (e.g., four or five contacts), of which a vertical Hall element contact 12 a is but one example.

A particular vertical Hall element (e.g., 12 a) within the CVH sensing element 12, which, for example, can have five adjacent contacts, can share some, for example, four, of the five contacts with a next vertical Hall element (e.g., 12 b). Thus, a next vertical Hall element can be shifted by one contact from a prior vertical Hall element. For such shifts by one contact, it will be understood that the number of vertical Hall elements is equal to the number of vertical Hall element contacts, e.g., 32. However, it will also be understood that a next vertical Hall element can be shifted by more than one contact from the prior vertical Hall element, in which case, there are fewer vertical Hall elements than there are vertical Hall element contacts in the CVH sensing element.

A center of a vertical Hall element 0 is positioned along an x-axis 20 and a center of vertical Hall element 8 is positioned along a y-axis 22. In the exemplary CVH 12, there are thirty-two vertical Hall elements and thirty-two vertical Hall element contacts. However, a CVH can have more than or fewer than thirty-two vertical Hall elements and more than or fewer than thirty-two vertical Hall element contacts.

In some applications, a circular magnet 14 having a north side 14 a and a south side 14 b can be disposed over the CVH 12. The circular magnet 14 tends to generate a magnetic field 16 having a direction from the north side 14 a to the south side 14 b, here shown to be pointed to a direction of about forty-five degrees relative to x-axis 20.

In some applications, the circular magnet 14 is mechanically coupled to a rotating object, for example, an automobile steering shaft or an automobile camshaft, and is subject to rotation relative to the CVH sensing element 12. With this arrangement, the CVH sensing element 12 in combination with an electronic circuit described below can generate a signal related to the angle of rotation of the magnet 14.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a plurality of sensing elements 30 a-30 h (or alternatively, sensors), in a general case, can be any type of sensing elements, including, but not limited to, pressure sensing elements, temperature sensing elements, light sensing elements, acoustic sensing elements, and magnetic field sensing elements. The magnetic field sensing elements 30 a-30 h can be, for example, planar Hall elements, vertical Hall elements, or magnetoresistance elements. These elements can also be coupled to an electronic circuit, in particular, to a combining circuit described below. For embodiments where the sensing elements 30 a-30 h are vertical Hall elements, there can also be a magnet the same as or similar to the magnet 14 of FIG. 1, disposed proximate to the sensing elements 30 a-30 h.

While the sensing elements 30 a-30 h are shown to be arranged in a circle, in some embodiments, the sensing elements can be arranged in another configuration, for example, in a line. Where the sensing elements 30 a-30 h are magnetic field sensing elements, such a linear arrangement can be used, for example, to detect a linear position of a ferromagnetic object. Where the sensing elements 30 a-30 h are acoustic sensors, such a linear arrangement can be used, for example, to characterize a position of a sound wave along a line.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a graph 50 has a horizontal axis with a scale in units of CVH vertical Hall element position, n, around a CVH sensing element, for example, the CVH sensing element 12 of FIG. 1. The graph 50 also has a vertical axis with a scale in amplitude in units of millivolts. The vertical axis is representative of output signal levels from the plurality of vertical Hall elements of the CVH sensing element.

The graph 50 includes a signal 52 representative of output signal levels from the plurality of vertical Hall elements of the CVH taken with the magnetic field of FIG. 1 pointing in a direction of forty-five degrees.

Referring briefly to FIG. 1, as described above, vertical Hall element 0 is centered along the x-axis 20 and vertical Hall element 8 is centered along the y-axis 22. In the exemplary CVH sensing element 12, there are thirty-two vertical Hall element contacts and a corresponding thirty-two vertical Hall elements, each vertical Hall element having a plurality of vertical Hall element contacts, for example, five contacts.

In FIG. 2, a maximum positive signal is achieved from a vertical Hall element centered at position 4, which is aligned with the magnetic field 16 of FIG. 1, such that a line drawn between the vertical Hall element contacts (e.g., five contacts) of the vertical Hall element at position 4 is perpendicular to the magnetic field. A maximum negative signal is achieved from a vertical Hall element centered at position 20, which is also aligned with the magnetic field 16 of FIG. 1, such that a line drawn between the vertical Hall element contacts (e.g., five contacts) of the vertical Hall element at position 20 is also perpendicular to the magnetic field.

A sine wave 54 is provided to more clearly show the ideal behavior of the signal 52. The signal 52 has variations due to vertical Hall element offsets, which tend to somewhat randomly cause element output signals to be too high or too low relative to the sine wave 54, in accordance with offset errors for each element. The offset signal errors are undesirable.

Full operation of the CVH sensing element 12 of FIG. 1 and generation of the signal 52 of FIG. 2 are described in more detail in the above-described PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008056517, entitled “Magnetic Field Sensor for Measuring Direction of a Magnetic Field in a Plane,” filed May 28, 2008, which is published in the English language as PCT Publication No. WO 2008/145662.

As will be understood from PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008056517, groups of contacts of each vertical Hall element can be used in a multiplexed or chopped arrangement to generate chopped output signals from each vertical Hall element. Thereafter, or in parallel (i.e., at the same time), a new group of adjacent vertical Hall element contacts can be selected (i.e., a new vertical Hall element), which can be offset by one element from the prior group. The new group can be used in the multiplexed or chopped arrangement to generate another chopped output signal from the next group, and so on.

Each step of the signal 52 can be representative of a chopped output signal from one respective group of vertical Hall element contacts, i.e., from one respective vertical Hall element. However, in other embodiments, no chopping is performed and each step of the signal 52 is representative of an unchopped output signal from one respective group of vertical Hall element contacts, i.e., from one respective vertical Hall element. Thus, the graph 52 is representative of a CVH output signal with or without the above-described grouping and chopping of vertical Hall elements.

It will be understood that, using techniques described above in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008056517, a phase of the signal 52 (e.g., a phase of the signal 54) can be found and can be used to identify the pointing direction of the magnetic field 16 of FIG. 1 relative to the CVH 12.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a circuit 70 includes a CVH sensing element 72 having a plurality of vertical Hall elements, each vertical Hall element comprising a group of vertical Hall element contacts (e.g., five vertical Hall element contacts), of which a vertical Hall element contact 73 is but one example.

In some embodiments, a switching circuit 74 can provide CVH output signals 72 a, also referred to as CVH output signals x_(n)=x₀ to x_(N-1), where n is equal to a vertical Hall element position (i.e., a position of a group of vertical Hall element contacts that form a vertical Hall element) in the CVH sensing element 72, and where there are N such positions.

In some embodiments, the CVH output signals 72 a are comprised of sequential output signals taken one-at-a-time around the CVH sensing element 72, wherein each output signal is generated on a separate signal path. In other embodiments, all of the CVH output signals 72 a are generated and provided continuously, wherein each one of the CVH output signals 72 a is still generated on a separate signal path. In the latter embodiments, the switching circuit 74 is not required. A continuous arrangement is described more fully below in conjunction with FIG. 10.

In one particular embodiment, the number of vertical Hall elements (each comprising a group of vertical Hall element contacts) in the CVH sensing element 72 is equal to the total number of sensing element positions, N. In other words, the CVH output signals 72 a can be comprised of sequential or parallel output signals, wherein each one of the CVH output signals 72 a is associated with a respective one of the vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element 72, i.e., the circuit 10 steps around the vertical Hall elements of the CVH sensing element 72 by increments of one, and N equals the number of vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element 72. However, in other embodiments, the increments can be by greater than one vertical Hall element, in which case N is less than the number of vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element 72.

In one particular embodiment, the CVH sensing element 72 has thirty-two vertical Hall elements, i.e., N=32, and each step is a step of one vertical Hall element contact position (i.e., one vertical Hall element position). In another embodiment, the CVH sensing element 72 has thirty-two vertical Hall elements, i.e., N=32, and each step is a step of two vertical Hall element contact positions (i.e., one vertical Hall element position), which means that the CVH sensing element has sixty-four vertical Hall element contacts. In other embodiments, there can be more than thirty-two or fewer than thirty-two vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element 72. Also, the increments of vertical Hall element positions, n, can be greater than one vertical Hall element contact.

In general, a subscript is used herein is to represent a vertical Hall element position, whether or not the number of vertical Hall elements is the same as the number of element positions.

In some embodiments, another switching circuit 76 can provide the above-described “chopping” of groups of the vertical Hall elements within the CVH sensing element 72. Chopping will be understood to be an arrangement in which a group of vertical Hall element contacts, for example, five vertical Hall element contacts are driven with current sources 86 in a plurality of connection configurations, and signals are received from the group of vertical Hall element contacts in corresponding configurations. Thus, in accordance with each vertical Hall element position, n, there can be a plurality of output signals during the chopping, and then the group increments to a new group, for example, by an increment of one vertical Hall element contact.

The circuit 70 includes an oscillator 78 that provides clock signals 78 a, 78 b, 78 c, which can have the same or different frequencies. A divider 80 is coupled to receive the clock signal 78 a and configured to generate a clock signal 80 a. A switch control circuit 82 is coupled to receive the clock signal 80 a and configured to generate switch control signals 82 a, which are received by the switching circuits 74, 76 to control the sequencing around the CVH sensing element 72, and, optionally, to control chopping of groups of vertical Hall elements within the CVH sensing element 72 in ways described above.

The current sources 86 are used to bias the vertical Hall elements of the CVH sensing element 72 when operating with or without chopping.

A preprocessing circuit 88 is coupled to receive the CVH output signals 72 a. In particular, a combining circuit 90 is coupled to receive the CVH output signals 72 a and configured to generate a preprocessed signal 90 a.

The circuit 70 can include divider 108 coupled to receive the clock signal 78 c and configured to generate a clock signal 108 a. A divider 110 can be coupled to receive the clock signal 108 a and configured to generate a clock signal 110 a.

The preprocessing circuit can include a b_(n)(k) control signal generator 92 coupled to receive the clock signal 108 a at a clock input and coupled to receive the clock signal 110 a at a reset input. Operation of the b_(n)(k) control signal generator 92 is further described below in conjunction with FIGS. 5, 6, and 6A. Let it suffice here to say that the b_(n)(k) control signal generator 92 is configured to generate control signals 92 a, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), which are a plurality of control signals to control the combining circuit 90.

The combining circuit 90 is described more fully below in conjunction with FIG. 4. Let it suffice here to say that the combining circuit 90 is configured to combine the CVH output signals 72 a in ways that provide and enhanced performance of the circuit 70 that would otherwise not be available. The combining circuit 90 is configured to generate a combined signal 90 a, E(k).

Referring to the control signals 92 a, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), as used herein, an index variable (k) is used to describe an indexing of the b_(n)(k) control signals 92 a. As described above, the subscript n is used to represent a vertical Hall element position. For thirty-two such vertical Hall elements (i.e., thirty-two groups of vertical Hall element contacts) in the CVH sensing element 72, there can be 32 such positions, and thus, there can be N=32 such control signals. The parameter k is used to describe a time indexing of the N control signals, such that at one time index value, the N control signals have a particular state configuration, and at another time index value, the N control signals have another particular state configuration. The b_(n)(k) control signals 92 a are described more fully below in conjunction with FIG. 5.

The circuit 70 can also include an x-y direction component circuit 94 coupled to receive the combined signal 90 a and configured to generate an x-y angle signal 104 a representative of an angle of a magnetic field in a plane of the CVH sensing element. For example, the x-y angle signal 104 a can be a digital signal representative of an angle of the magnetic field 16 of FIG. 1 relative to the CVH sensing element 12.

The x-y direction component circuit 94 can include an amplifier 96 coupled to receive the combined signal 90 a and configured to generate an amplified signal 96 a. An optional band pass filter 98 can be coupled to receive the amplified signal 96 a and configured to generate a filtered signal 98 a.

A comparator 100 with hysteresis can be coupled to receive the filtered signal 98 a and also coupled to receive a predetermined threshold signal 106 and configured to generate a two-state signal 100 a. A counter 102 can be coupled to receive the two-state signal 100 a at an enable input, to receive the clock signal 78 b at a clock input, and to receive the clock signal 110 a at a reset input.

The counter 102 is configured to generate a phase signal 102 a having a count representative of a phase between the two-state signal 100 a and the clock signal 110 a. The phase signal is received by a latch 104 that is latched in accordance with the clock signal 110 a. The latch 104 is configured to generate a latched signal 104 a.

It will become apparent that the latched signal 104 a is a multi-bit digital signal that has a value representative of an angle of the magnetic field experience by the CVH sensing element 72.

In some embodiments, all parts of the circuit 70 are fabricated on a single common substrate, for example, a silicon substrate.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a combining circuit 130 can be the same as or similar to the combining circuit 90 of FIG. 3. The combining circuit 130 can include a plurality of switching circuits 136 a-136N, each coupled to receive a respective one of the CVH output signals 72 a, x_(n)=x₀ to x_(N-1), of FIG. 3. The switching circuits 136 a-136N are also each coupled to receive a respective one of the control signals 92 a, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), of FIG. 3.

Optionally, respective sample and hold circuits 138 can be coupled before the switching circuits 136 a-136N. The sample and hold circuits 138 can be used for embodiments described above in which the CVH output signals 72 a of FIG. 3 are sequentially generated. In these embodiments, sampled signals x′₀ to x′_(N-1), sampled sequentially and held, are provided to the switching circuits 136 a-136N instead of the signals x₀ to x_(N-1).

For embodiments also described above, for which the CVH output signals 72 a of FIG. 3 are continuously generated, no sample and hold circuits 138 are needed, and signals x₀ to x_(N-1) are provided at the same time to the switching circuits 136 a-136N.

The switching circuits 136 a-136N generate respective switched signals z₀(k) to Z_(N-1)(k) (e.g., 32 switched signals). A summing circuit 134 is coupled to receive the switched signals, z₀(k) to Z_(N-1)(k), and configured to generate a combined signal 134 a, which can be the same as or similar to the combined signal 90 a of FIG. 3.

In operation, at any particular time, some of the control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), are in a high state and others are in a low state. The switching circuits 136 a-136N are responsive to respective states of the control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), such that, in response to one particular state of a respective control signal, a respective one of the CVH output signals, x₀ to x_(N-1), is inverted as it passes through the respective switching circuit, and in response to the other different state of the control signal, the CVH output signal is not inverted. Outputs signals, z₀(k) to z_(N-1)(k), result, which can be differential signals as shown, or which, in other embodiments, can be signal-ended signals.

It will be appreciated that the combined signal 134 a, E(k), is essentially a sum of signals, i.e., a sum of some of the CVH output signals, x₀ to x_(N-1), that are inverted along with some of the CVH output signals, x₀ to x_(N-1), that are not inverted.

In operation, the control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), change state from time to time. Changes of the control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), are more fully described below in conjunction with FIGS. 5, 8, and 8A.

Referring now to FIG. 5, graphs 152-158 each have a horizontal axis with a scale in units of vertical Hall element position around a CVH sensing element, and a vertical axis having a scale in units representative of a binary state (1 (e.g., high) or 0 (e.g., low)) of the b, control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k) of FIG. 4 and the b_(n) control signals 92 a of FIG. 3.

As described above, the Hall element positions, N positions, represented by the horizontal axes, can have steps of one vertical Hall element (i.e., one vertical Hall element contact) or steps of more than one vertical Hall element (i.e., more that one vertical Hall element contact). Furthermore, the positions can be indicative of positions of respective groups of Hall elements when used in a chopped arrangement.

Each one of the graphs represents the control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), taken at a different time. For example, the graph 152 shows that, at a first time (or increment 0) of the indexing variable, k, the control signals from b₀(0) to b_(N/2−1) (0) are low and the control signals from b_(N/2)(0) to b_(N-1)(0) are high.

As described above, the subscript index is representative of the position, n, of the vertical Hall element (or group of vertical Hall element contacts) around the CVH sensing element, and there are N such positions from 0 to N−1. The index, k, is representative of a time increment associated with a change of the control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k).

At the 0^(th) increment of the index, k, the control signal b₀(0) is low and is the control signal received by the switching circuit 136 a of FIG. 4 at a particular time represented by k=0. The low control signal, b₀(0), can cause the switching circuit 136 a not to invert, resulting in z₀(0)=x₀(0). At the N/2 vertical Hall element position, the control signal, b_(N/2)(0), is high, causing a respective one of the switching circuits of FIG. 3 to invert, resulting in Z_(N/2)(0)=−x_(N/2)(0). At the last vertical Hall element position, N−1, the respective control signal, b_(N-1)(0), is high, also causing the switching circuit 136N of FIG. 3 to invert, resulting in Z_(N-1)(0)=−x_(N-1)(0).

The graphs 154-158 are representative of one particular embodiment, for which, at each increment of the time index, k, the control signals b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k) shift by one vertical Hall element position (i.e., by one vertical Hall element contact). Thus, referring to the graph 154, at the 1^(st) increment of the index, k, the control signal b₀(1) is now high and is the control signal received by the switching circuit 136 a of FIG. 4. The high control signal, b₀(1), can cause the switching circuit 136 a to invert, resulting in z₀(1)=−x₀(1). At the N/2 vertical Hall element position, the control signal, b_(N/2)(1), is now low, causing a respective one of the switching circuits of FIG. 3 not to invert, resulting in z_(N/2)(1)=x_(N/2)(1). At the last vertical Hall element position, N−1, the respective control signal, b_(N-1)(1), is still high, causing the switching circuit 136N of FIG. 3 to invert, resulting in z_(N-1)(1)=−x_(N-1)(1).

Similarly, referring to the graph 156, at the N/2 increment of the index, k, the control signal b₀(N/2) is high and is the control signal received by the switching circuit 136 a of FIG. 4. The high control signal, b₀(N/2), can cause the switching circuit 136 a to invert, resulting in z₀(N/2)=−x₀(N/2). At the N/2 vertical Hall element position, the control signal, b_(N/2)(N/2), is low, causing a respective one of the switching circuits of FIG. 3 not to invert, resulting in z_(N/2)(N/2)=x_(N/2)(N/2). At the last vertical Hall element position, N−1, the respective control signal, b_(N-1)(N/2), is now low, causing the switching circuit 136N of FIG. 3 not to invert, resulting in z_(N-1)(N/2)=x_(N-1)(N/2).

Finally, referring to the graph 158, at the N−1 increment of the index, k, the control signal b₀(N−1) is now low, causing the switching circuit 136 a to not invert, resulting in z₀(N−1)=x₀(N−1). At the N/2 vertical Hall element position, the control signal, b_(N/2)(N−1), is now high, causing a respective one of the switching circuits of FIG. 3 to invert, resulting in Z_(N/2)(N−1)=−x_(N/2)(N−1). At the last vertical Hall element position, N−1, the respective control signal, b_(N-1)(N−1), is low, causing the switching circuit 142 of FIG. 3 not to invert, resulting in Z_(N-1)(N−1)=X_(N-1)(N−1).

While half of the control signals b₀(k) to b_(N/2-1)(k) at any increment of the index, k, are shown to be high and the other half to be low, in other embodiments, other proportions of high and low control signals can be used. This can include proportions all the way down to one control signal being in one state and all of the other control signals being in another state.

However, it will be understood from discussion below that a best signal to noise ratio is obtained when the proportion is one-half.

As used herein, the phrase “approximately half” refers to a range of about forty percent to about sixty percent.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a b_(n) control signal generator 170 can be the same as or similar to the b_(n) control signal generator 92 of FIG. 3 and can generate the b_(n) control signals of FIG. 5, which can be the same as or similar to the b_(n) control signals 92 a of FIG. 3.

The b_(n) control signal generator 170 can include a first plurality of flip-flops 172-176 coupled to receive a clock signal 186 at respective clock inputs. The output from a prior flip-flop is coupled to a data input of a next flip-flop. The plurality of flip-flops 172-176 is coupled to receive a reset signal 184 at respective reset inputs.

A second plurality of flip-flops 178-182 is also coupled to receive the clock signal 186 at respective clock inputs. The output from a prior flip-flop is coupled to a data input of a next flip-flop. The plurality of flip-flops 178-182 is coupled to receive the signal 184 at respective set inputs.

A last flip-flop 182 is coupled to provide its output signal to the data input of the first flip-flop 172.

With the above arrangement, the flip-flops 172-176 are set low in accordance with the reset signal 184, and the flip-flops 178-182 are set high.

The signal 186 can be the same as or similar to the clock signal 108 a of FIG. 3 and the signal 184 can be the same as or similar to the clock signal 110 a of FIG. 3. With each subsequent rising edge of clock signal 186, the position of the N/2 adjacent low signals and N/2 adjacent high signals are shifted one position to the right.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, a chart 200 includes graphs 202-208, each graph showing the b_(n) control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k). Each cycle of the clock signal 186 of FIG. 6 provides a new set of b_(n) control signals, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), i.e., a new index value for the index, k.

Graphs 202-208 are very much like graphs shown and described above in conjunction with FIG. 5, and thus, the graphs 202-208 are not discussed further.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an exemplary circuit 220 can include circuit portions 221 a-221N, which is a circuit portion replicated N times, where N is the number of vertical Hall element positions, for example thirty-two, in a CVH sensing element.

The circuit 220 can include a combining circuit, which can include switching circuits 234 a-234N and also a current summing circuit 242, which are coupled together. The combining circuit of FIG. 7 can be the same as or similar to the combining circuits 90, 130 of FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. The combining circuit of FIG. 7 can generate a combined output signal 244, E(k), shown here as a differential signal. The combined output signal 244 can be the same as or similar to the combined output signal 90 a of FIG. 3 and the combined output signal 134 a of FIG. 4.

The circuit 220 can also include chopping modulators 230 a-230N (230 b-230N not shown), which are coupled to receive the CVH output signals 222, x₀ to x_(N-1), which can be the same as or similar to the CVH output signals x₀ to x_(N-1) of FIGS. 3 and 4. The chopping modulators 230 a-230N are also coupled to provide bias signals 222 (e.g., current signals) and reference voltage connections 222 to the CVH sensing element. Bias signals and reference connections are described more fully below in conjunction with FIG. 10.

As described above, chopping uses a group of Hall element contacts, for example, five contacts, here within a CVH sensing element, and switches in various ways between the elements of the group. Thereafter, the chopping moves to a next element position, i.e., indexes around the CVH sensing element by an index step, for example, by one vertical Hall element contact within the CVH sensing element, where chopping is again performed on a next vertical Hall element.

As described above, in some embodiments, the chopping is not performed and the chopping modulators 230 a-230N are not used.

Differential pairs 232 a-232N (232 b-232N not shown) are coupled to receive output signals from the chopping modulators 230 a-230N, respectively. The differential pairs 232 a-232N can generate current signals that are received by the switching circuits 234 a-234N, respectively. Conversion from voltage signals to current signals allows for simple summation of signals 242 from the plurality of switching circuits 234 a-234N to generate the combined output signal 244.

The switching circuits 234 a-234N are coupled to receive control signals 224, b₀(k) to b_(N-1)(k), respectively, as described above in conjunction with FIG. 4. It will be understood from discussion above that the switching circuits 234 a-234N are configured to either invert or to not invert current signals provided by the differential pairs 232 a-232N, depending upon states of the control signals 224.

The chopping modulators 230 a-230N are coupled to receive a Hall element chopping clock 228, which can be the same clock for each one of the chopping modulators 230 a-230N, either sequentially or in parallel.

The chopping modulators 230 a-230N can also be coupled to receive two or more Hall element bias signals 240 used in the chopping process. The Hall element bias signals can be the same for each one of the chopping modulators 230 a-230N, either sequentially or in parallel.

The differential pairs 232 a-232N can be coupled to receive differential pair bias signals 226. The differential pair bias signals 226 can be the same for each one of the differential pairs 232 a-232N, either sequentially or in parallel.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a graph 250 includes a horizontal axis with a scale in units of CVH element position, n. The graph 250 also includes a vertical axis with units of magnitude in millivolts. The vertical scale is representative of magnitude of switched element signals z₀(k) to z_(N-1)(k) (see, e.g., FIG. 4) for a k index value of four. While shown in voltage units in millivolts, the magnitude can either be in units of voltage or in units of current, depending upon the type of circuits used. The k index value of four is representative of a particular shift of the b_(n) control signals (see, e.g., FIG. 5).

For reference only, a sine wave 254 is shown, which is like the sine wave 54 of FIG. 2.

A signal 256 is representative of the switched element signals (e.g., z₀(4) to Z_(N-1)(4)) from each one of thirty-two vertical Hall element positions within the CVH sensing element, before the signals are combined, for example, by the summing circuit 134 of FIG. 4. Comparing the signal 254 to the signal 52 of FIG. 2, it will be understood that from CVH element position 4 to CVH element position 19, the signal 256 is identical to the signal 52, while from CVH element positions 20 to 31 and positions 0 to 3, the signal 256 is inverted from the signal 52. Transitions 256 a and 256 b are apparent.

It will be apparent that if all of the magnitudes (steps) of the signal 256 were summed, e.g., by the summing circuit 134 of FIG. 4, the sum would be near zero.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, a graph 270 includes a horizontal axis with a scale in units of CVH element position, n. The graph 270 also includes a vertical axis with units of magnitude in millivolts. The vertical scale is representative of magnitude of switched element signals z₀(k) to z_(N-1)(k) (see, e.g., FIG. 4) for a k index value of twenty-eight. The k index value of twenty-eight is representative of another particular shift of the b_(n) control signals (see, e.g., FIG. 5).

For reference only, a sine wave 274 is shown, which is like the sine wave 54 of FIG. 2.

A signal 272 is representative of the switched element signals (e.g., z₀(28) to z_(N-1)(28)) from each one of thirty-two vertical Hall element positions within the CVH sensing element, before the signals are combined, for example, by the summing circuit 134 of FIG. 4. Comparing the signal 272 to the signal 52 of FIG. 2, it will be understood that from CVH element position 28 to CVH element position 31 and from positions 0 to 11, the signal 272 is identical to the signal 52, while from element positions 12 to 27, the signal 256 is inverted from the signal 52.

It will be apparent that if all of the magnitudes (steps) of the signal 272 were summed, e.g., by the summing circuit 134 of FIG. 4, the sum would be near to a maximum.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a graph 300 includes a horizontal axis in units of the index value k. The graph 300 also includes a vertical scale in units of voltage in millivolts. A signal 302 is representative of a summed signal, for example, the summed signal 90 a of FIG. 3 or the summed signal 134 a of FIG. 4, for all N possible shifts of the b(n) control signals.

For reference only, a sine wave 304 is shown.

Comparing the signal 302 with the signals 256, 272 of FIGS. 8 and 8A, it can be seen that the signal 302 is near zero when the index value, k, is equal to four, and the signal 302 is near to a maximum when the index value, k, is equal to twenty-eight.

It will be noted that the offset errors in the signals 52, 256, 276 of FIGS. 3, 8, and 8A, which cause voltage deviations from the ideal sine wave from element position to element position, are greatly reduced in the signal 302 of FIG. 9. This is due to the summing provided by the summing circuit 134 of FIG. 4, which tends to average any random offset signals.

Referring briefly to FIG. 2, as described above, the pointing direction of the magnetic field 16 of FIG. 1, forty-five degrees, can be determined according to a maximum of the signal 52 at the CVH element position of four.

Referring again to FIG. 9, the pointing direction of the magnetic field 16 of FIG. 1 can instead be determined according to a zero crossing of the signal 302 at the index value, k, of four. Note that there are two zero crossings, one near k=4 and one near k=20. The zero crossing with the negative slope, from positive E(k) to negative E(k), will correspond to the pointing direction of the magnetic field. However, the signal 302 has less random fluctuation than the signal 52, and thus, the angle measurement should be more accurate.

The magnitude of the signal 302 is shown to be larger than the magnitude of the signal 52 of FIG. 2. The larger magnitude of the signal 302 is expected due to the summation of signals by the summing circuits, for example, by the summing circuit 134 of FIG. 4. The signal 302 can be represented as:

${E\left( {\theta_{IN},k} \right)} = {\frac{2\;{GN}}{\pi}{\cos\left\lbrack {\theta_{IN} + {\frac{2\pi}{N}\left( {k - \frac{1}{2}} \right)}} \right\rbrack}}$

-   -   where:     -   θ_(IN)=magnetic field angle in plane of CVH sensing element;     -   k=b_(n) control signal index;     -   N=total number of vertical Hall element positions used in the         CVH sensing element; and     -   G=a constant related to maximum CVH sensor signal output, e.g.,         an amplitude of the sine wave signal 54 (FIG. 2) or an         approximate amplitude of the signal 52 (FIG. 2), for example:         G=BSg _(m) R _(out)         -   where:         -   B=magnetic field magnitude (Gauss);         -   S=vertical Hall element sensitivity (volts/Gauss);         -   g_(m)=transconductance of differential pair 232 a of FIG. 5;         -   Rout=transresistance of an output amplifier (volts/amps)             (e.g., 236 of FIG. 7)             Thus, the magnitude of the result at any angle is:             2GN/π,             which is directly proportional the number of sensing             elements in the summation. Using the signal of FIG. 2, which             has a zero-to-peak amplitude of 5 mV, 2GN/pi becomes 2*(5             mV)*32/pi=102 mV, which is consistent with the amplitude of             the signal 302 (or 304) of FIG. 9.

It will be appreciated that the higher amplitude of the signal 304 results in an improved signal to noise ratio.

It will be appreciated from the above equation that when θ_(IN)=45° or π/4, k=4.5 gives E(θ_(IN),k)=0, thus the exact location for the zero crossing of E(θ_(IN),k) will be between positions 4 and 5. It will also be appreciated from the above equation that when θ_(IN)=45° or r/4, k=28.5 gives E(θ_(IN),k)=2GN/π, or the maximum of E(θ_(IN),k), thus the exact location for the maximum of E(θ_(IN),k) will be between positions 28 and 29. Also note that any angle can be determined from the value of k that results in the first zero crossing of E(θ_(IN),k), which is when the argument of the cosine function is π/2 or 90°. This is determined from the equation:

$\theta_{IN} = {{+ \frac{\pi}{2}} - {\frac{2\pi}{N}\left( {k - \frac{1}{2}} \right)}}$

As described in FIG. 3, the signal 302 (the signal 90 a of FIG. 3) can be subsequently processed by the x-y direction component circuit 94 to identify a phase of the signal 90 a, which is representative of the angle of the magnetic field. The signal 104 a of FIG. 3 provides the phase representative of magnetic input angle.

While the circuits and methods described herein are shown by example of vertical Hall elements within a CVH sensing element, as described above, it should be appreciated that the same techniques can be used to process signals from a plurality of any type of sensing element. In some embodiments, the circuits and methods can be used to identify a largest signal from among the plurality of sensing elements. The same benefits of reduced offset signal variations and increased amplitude and processing speed will apply to any type of sensing elements, and not only to magnetic field sensing elements. For example, the same techniques could be applied to a plurality of acoustic sensing elements used to sense an acoustic signal. Depending upon the type of sensing elements, the x-y direction component circuit 94 of FIG. 3 may or may not be applicable. Other types of processing of the summed signal 90 a of FIG. 3 may or may not be provided.

It should also be apparent that the same benefits can be achieved in relation to any type of sensor assemblies, i.e., to any type of sensors. For example, the same techniques could be applied to a plurality of magnetic field sensors, each having a magnetic field sensing element and associated processing circuitry, wherein the processing described herein can be applied to output signals from the magnetic field sensors downstream from the magnetic field sensing elements, e.g., to output signals from the magnetic field sensors.

As described above in conjunction with FIG. 4, the CVH sensing element described herein can be used either in a mode that provides sequential output signals from a plurality of vertical Hall elements or in a mode that can provide simultaneous and continuous output signals from a plurality of vertical Hall elements. A sequential arrangement is described in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/EP2008056517, which is incorporated by reference above. A continuous arrangement is described more fully below in conjunction with FIG. 10.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a portion of a CVH sensing element 320 is shown in panels A-D in four side views having a respective four different exemplary drive and signal arrangements. The drive and signal arrangements can be switched, for example, by the switching circuit 76 of FIG. 3., so that the arrangements of panels A-D are achieved sequentially in the above-described chopping of vertical Hall elements. However, if there is no chopping, the arrangement of any one of the panels A-D can be retained continuously.

The panels A-D have the same reference designations to indicate the same elements. The CVH sensing element 320 includes a plurality of vertical Hall element contacts, of which vertical Hall element contacts 322 a-322 m are but some of the vertical Hall element contacts in the CVH sensing element 320. The vertical Hall element contacts 322 a-322 m are arranged over a section of a common circular implant region 324 in a substrate (not shown), which can be the same as or similar to the common circular implant region 18 of FIG. 1. The vertical Hall element contacts 322 a-322 m can be the same as or similar to the vertical Hall element contacts (i.e., 12 aa) of FIG. 1.

Vertical hall elements 322 a-322 m are arranged with groups of five vertical Hall element contacts, each group representing a vertical Hall element. For example, referring to panel A of FIG. 10, a first vertical Hall element 327 aa includes the vertical Hall element contacts 322 b-322 f. A second vertical Hall element 327 ab includes the vertical Hall element contacts 322 d-322 h. A third vertical 327 ac includes the vertical Hall element contacts 322 f-322 j.

Still referring to panel A of FIG. 10, for the first vertical Hall element 327 aa, current sources 326, 328 drive currents into the vertical Hall element contacts 322 b, 322 f. A reference coupling 334 is used to couple the vertical Hall element contact 322 d to a reference voltage, for example, a ground voltage. Current from the current source 326 passes through the vertical Hall element contact 322 b and splits in two, with approximately half of the current flowing toward the reference coupling 334 and approximately half of the current flowing toward another reference coupling (not shown) connected to a vertical Hall element contact positioned to the left of vertical Hall element contact 322 b. Similarly, the current from the current source 328 passes through vertical Hall element contact 322 f and splits in two, with approximately half of the current flowing toward the reference coupling 334 and approximately half of the current flowing toward the reference coupling 336. Thus, for the first vertical Hall element 327 aa, currents flow from the vertical Hall element contacts 322 b, 322 f to the vertical Hall element contact 322 d as indicated by arrows and dashed lines.

Still referring to the first vertical Hall element 327 aa in panel A of FIG. 10, if a positive magnetic field is present in a direction perpendicular to the first vertical Hall element 327 aa and facing into the page, the upward-flowing current under vertical Hall element contact 322 d creates a positive voltage when measured from vertical Hall element contact 322 c to vertical Hall element contact 322 e, according to the Hall effect. Therefore an output voltage, V_(1a), of the first vertical Hall element 327 aa is oriented so that the positive terminal is on the left, connected to the vertical Hall element contact 322 c, and the negative terminal is on the right, connected to the vertical Hall element contact 322 e.

For the second vertical Hall element 327 ba, the current source 328 drives a current into the vertical Hall element contact 322 f. Reference couplings 334, 336 are used to couple the vertical Hall element contacts 322 d, 322 h to a reference voltage, for example, a ground voltage. As described above, the current from the current source 328 passes through vertical Hall element contact 322 f and splits in two, with approximately half of the current flowing toward reference coupling 336 and approximately half of the current flowing toward reference coupling 334. Thus, the current source 328 and the reference coupling 334 are continuously shared between the first and second vertical Hall elements 327 aa,327 ba, respectively. For the second vertical Hall element 327 ba, currents flow from the vertical Hall element contact 322 f to the vertical Hall element contacts 322 d, 322 h as indicated by arrows and dashed lines.

Still referring to the second vertical Hall element 327 ba in panel A of FIG. 10, if a positive magnetic field is present in a direction perpendicular to the second vertical Hall element 327 ba and facing into the page, the downward-flowing current under vertical Hall element contact 322 f creates a positive voltage when measured from the vertical Hall element contact 322 g to the vertical Hall element contact 322 e, according to the Hall effect. Therefore an output voltage, V_(2a), of the second vertical Hall element 327 ba is oriented so that the positive terminal is on the right, connected to the vertical Hall element contact 322 g, and the negative terminal is on the left, connected to the vertical Hall element contact 322 e. Note also that the negative terminal connection connected to the vertical Hall element contact 322 e is continuously shared between the first and second vertical Hall elements 327 aa,327 ba, respectively.

For the third vertical Hall element 327 ca, current sources 328, 330 drive currents into the vertical Hall element contacts 322 f, 322 j. A reference coupling 336 is used to couple the vertical Hall element contact 322 h to a reference voltage, for example, a ground voltage. Thus, currents flow from the vertical Hall element contacts 322 f, 322 j to the vertical Hall element contact 322 h as indicated by arrows and dashed lines. As described above, the current from the current source 328 passes through the vertical Hall element contact 322 f and splits in two, with approximately half of the current flowing toward the reference coupling 334 and approximately half of the current flowing toward the reference coupling 336. Similarly, the current from the current source 330 passes through vertical Hall element contact 322 j and splits in two, with approximately half of the current flowing toward the reference coupling 336 and approximately half of the current flowing toward the reference coupling 338. Thus, for the third vertical Hall element 327 ca, currents flow from the vertical Hall element contacts 322 f, 322 j to the vertical Hall element contact 322 h as indicated by arrows and dashed lines.

Still referring to the third vertical Hall element 327 ca in panel A of FIG. 10, if a positive magnetic field is present in a direction perpendicular to the third vertical Hall element 327 ca and facing into the page, the upward-flowing current under vertical Hall element contact 322 h creates a positive voltage when measured from the vertical Hall element contact 322 g to the vertical Hall element contact 322 i, according to the Hall effect. Therefore an output voltage, V_(3a), of the third vertical Hall element 327 ca is oriented so that the positive terminal is on the left, connected to vertical Hall element contact 322 g, and the negative terminal is on the right, connected to vertical Hall element contact 322 i.

Other vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element 320 are similarly coupled. Although not depicted in panel A of FIG. 10, all vertical Hall element contacts in panel A are circularly arranged over a common circular implant region so that additional vertical Hall element contacts to the right of vertical Hall element contact 322 m will adjoin next to additional vertical Hall element contacts to the left of vertical Hall element contact 322 a. With this arrangement, adjacent couplings are identical for all elements, including elements that define starting and ending points around the circular CVH structure.

It will be understood that the arrangement of panel A can be maintained continuously, in which case, the number of vertical Hall elements is equal to half of the total number of vertical Hall element contacts. For example, if there are sixty-four vertical Hall element contacts in the CVH sensing element 320, then there are thirty-two vertical Hall elements, each providing a continuous output signal.

If the arrangement of panel A is maintained, then a plurality of output signals from the CVH sensing element 320 are continuous signals, in which case, the sample and hold circuits 138 of FIG. 4 are not needed and continuous signals (i.e., x₀-x_(N-1)) can be presented to the switching circuits 136 a-136N of FIG. 4. The same is true if any of the arrangements of panels B-D are continuously maintained.

While panel A is representative of vertical Hall elements using all of the vertical Hall element contacts in the CVH sensing element, in some embodiments, only two or more vertical Hall elements provide output signals at the same time, wherein the two vertical Hall elements can either share vertical Hall element contacts or not. Each vertical Hall element can generate a differential output signal.

It should be understood that the current sources 326, 328, 330 and the reference couplings 334, 328, 330 represent particular drive signal generators to drive the vertical Hall elements 327 ab, 327 bb, 327 cb in order to generate output signals. However, it should be recognized that there are other drive arrangements, for example, using voltage sources.

Panels B-D are representative of a chopping arrangement in which all output signals are still available, but for which each output signal (i.e., each vertical Hall element) is chopped to provide four output signal versions. Current directions in relation to output voltage polarities in panels B-D will be understood from discussion above in conjunction with panel A.

Referring now to panel B, the current sources 326, 328, 330 are shifted to the right by one vertical Hall element contact. The reference couplings 334, 336, 338 are also shifted to the right by one and an additional reference coupling 340 is shown coupled to the vertical Hall element contact 322 a.

In panel B, the first, second, and third vertical Hall elements 327 ab, 327 bb, 327 cb are shifted to the right from their previous positions by one vertical Hall element contact. An output voltage signals V_(1b) from the first vertical Hall element 327 ab results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 d, 322 f. An output voltage signals V_(2b) from the second vertical Hall element 327 bb results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 f, 322 h. An output voltage signals V_(3b) from the third vertical Hall element 327 cb results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 h, 322 j.

Referring now to panel C, the current sources 326, 328, 330 are again shifted to the right by one vertical Hall element contact. The reference couplings 334, 336, 338, 340 are also shifted to the right by one.

In panel C, the first, second, and third vertical Hall elements 327 ac, 327 bc, 327 cc are shifted to the left from their previous positions by one vertical Hall element contact. An output voltage signals V_(1c) from the first vertical Hall element 327 ac results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 c, 322 e. An output voltage signals V_(2c) from the second vertical Hall element 327 bc results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 e, 322 g. An output voltage signals V_(3c) from the third vertical Hall element 327 cc results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 g, 322 i.

Referring now to panel D, the current sources 326, 328, 330 are again shifted to the right by one vertical Hall element contact. The reference couplings 334, 336, 338, 340 are also shifted to the right by one. An additional current source 332 is shown coupled to the vertical Hall element contact 322 a.

In panel D, the first, second, and third vertical Hall elements 327 ad, 327 bd, 327 cd are shifted to the right from their previous positions by one vertical Hall element contact. An output voltage signals V_(1d) from the first vertical Hall element 327 ad results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 d, 322 f. An output voltage signals V_(2d) from the second vertical Hall element 327 bd results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 f, 322 h. An output voltage signals V_(3d) from the third vertical Hall element 327 cd results between the vertical Hall element contacts 322 h, 322 j.

While the first, second, and third vertical Hall elements are shown to shift right and left in the panels A-D, for the purposes of chopping, they can still considered to be the same vertical Hall element. It will be recognized that by shifting right and left, in the presence of a static magnetic field, the vertical Hall elements will output slightly different signal magnitudes and phases upon each shift. However, unlike the offset voltages represented by the irregular steps of the signal 52 of FIG. 2, the magnitude and phase shifts caused by the shifting positions are deterministic and can be removed by subsequent processing if desired.

For chopping, taking the first vertical Hall element 327 aa, 327 ab, 327 ac, 327 ad as an example, with the four possible couplings of the drive and reference contacts (current in, current out, positive voltage measurement, negative voltage measurement), any offset voltages associated with the first vertical Hall element, when combined using an average of the output voltage signals V_(1a), V_(1b), V_(1c), V_(1d), will nearly cancel. Thus, chopping can achieve a reduction in the offset voltages otherwise represented in the signal 52 of FIG. 2.

It will also be recognized that the combining circuit 90 of FIG. 3 combines a plurality of signals from a plurality of vertical Hall elements. Thus, the combining circuit 90 also tends to reduce the effect of offset voltages, resulting in a signal 302 (FIG. 9) having regular rather than random steps.

Therefore, in some embodiments of the circuit 70 of FIG. 3 no chopping is used and in other embodiments, chopping is used. Also, in some embodiments, only a subset of the arrangements of panels A-D are used, for example, only the arrangements of panel A and panel B are used.

In some embodiments the chopping, i.e., the switching between the arrangements of panels A-D occurs with a chopping rate in the range of about 100 kHz to about 10 MHz.

While the vertical Hall elements of FIG. 10 are represented as groups of five vertical Hall element contacts, in some embodiments, there can be more than five vertical Hall element contacts in each vertical Hall element. In still other embodiments, there can be three or four vertical Hall element contacts in each vertical Hall element.

While the continuously driven vertical Hall elements are shown to overlap by three vertical Hall element contacts (i.e., they share three vertical Hall element contacts), in other embodiments, the continuously driven vertical Hall elements can overlap by one vertical Hall element contact. (see, e.g., vertical Hall elements 327 aa, 327 ca).

In still other embodiment, circumferential centers (in a direction around the circle of the CVH sensing element) of two continuously driven vertical Hall elements are angularly disposed around the CVH sensing elements by less than one hundred eighty degrees. Thus, in these embodiments, the two vertical Hall elements generate output signals that are not representative of opposite magnetic field directions relative to each other.

In some embodiments, circumferential centers of the continuously driven vertical Hall elements are angularly disposed around the CVH sensing elements by an angle less than or equal to about forty-five degrees.

It should be understood that a configuration, such as that of FIG. 10, for which the plurality of output signals are generated continuously rather than sequentially by the CVH sensing element, will tend to result in a faster angle sensor that is more quickly responsive to any change in a direction of a magnetic field.

It will also be understood that, where chopping is used, a faster chopping (e.g., between the arrangements of panels A-D) will tend to result in a faster angle sensor that is more quickly responsive to any change in a direction of a magnetic field. An even faster angle sensor may be achieved with no chopping, in which case the combining circuit 90 of FIG. 4 can provide, among other benefits, the reduction of offset voltages.

While an example of a CVH sensing element used in a way to provide continuous output signals is shown above, as described further above, in other embodiments, the CVH sensing element can instead be used in a way to provide sequential output signals. For those embodiments, the sequencing and chopping is more straightforward. For example, a first vertical Hall element can first be selected having, for example, five vertical Hall element contacts, and can provide an output signal. If chopping is desired, the configuration of the bias signal, reference coupling, and output signals of the first selected vertical Hall element can be reconfigured, for example, to provide multiple output signals that can be averaged. Thereafter, a next vertical Hall element can be selected, which can be offset from the first selected vertical Hall element, for example, by one vertical Hall element contact from the first selected vertical Hall element, and the chopping can be repeated. If no chopping is used, a particular single configuration of bias, reference, and output signals from each selected vertical Hall element can be used.

While a CVH sensing element is used in examples of an angle sensor above, it should be understood that the same benefits can be achieved with another type of angle sensor, for example, a plurality of separate vertical Hall elements or a plurality of separate magnetoresistance elements.

All references cited herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Having described preferred embodiments, which serve to illustrate various concepts, structures and techniques, which are the subject of this patent, it will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating these concepts, structures and techniques may be used. Accordingly, it is submitted that that scope of the patent should not be limited to the described embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic circuit, comprising: a plurality of sensors configured to generate a corresponding plurality of sensor signals; a control signal generator configured to generate a plurality of control signals, wherein each control signal comprises a first state and a second different state at different times, wherein, at a first time, a first selected set of the plurality of control signals is in the first state and a second selected set of the plurality of control signals different than the first selected set is in the second state, and wherein, at a second different time, a third selected set of the plurality of control signals is in the first state and a fourth selected set of the plurality of control signals different than the third selected set is in the second state; and a combining circuit comprising: a plurality of switching circuits, wherein each switching circuit is coupled to receive at the same time a respective one of the plurality of sensor signals and coupled to receive a respective one of the plurality of control signals, wherein each switching circuit is configured to generate, at the same time, a respective switching circuit output signal, resulting in a plurality of switching circuit output signals, the respective switching circuit output signal being representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the plurality of sensor signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals, resulting in the plurality of switching circuit output signals being comprised of at least one switching circuit output signal representative of an inverted first one of the plurality of sensor signals and at least one switching circuit output signal representative of a non-inverted second different one of the plurality of sensor signals at the same time; and a summing circuit coupled to receive the plurality of switching circuit output signals from the plurality of switching circuits and configured to generate a summed output signal corresponding to a sum of the switching circuit output signals.
 2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein a number of the plurality of control signals in the first set of control signals equals a number of the plurality of control signals in the third set of control signals, and wherein a number of the plurality of control signals in the second set of control signals equals a number of the plurality of control signals in the fourth set of control signals.
 3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein numbers of the plurality of control signals in the first, second, third, and fourth sets of control signals are approximately equal, and each are approximately half of a number of the control signals in the plurality of control signals.
 4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensing elements comprises a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements.
 5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of Hall elements.
 6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of Hall elements disposed on a common substrate, wherein the plurality of Hall elements provides an angle sensor, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the control signal generator and the combining circuit are disposed on the same common substrate.
 8. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors provides an angle sensor disposed upon a common substrate, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of vertical Hall elements disposed on a common substrate, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the control signal generator and the combining circuit are disposed on the same common substrate.
 11. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged in a circular vertical Hall element (CVH) structure over a common implant region in a common substrate, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 12. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the control signal generator and the combining circuit are disposed on the same common substrate.
 13. The circuit of claim 10, further comprising a band pass filter coupled to receive a signal representative of the summed output signal and configured to generated a filtered output signal.
 14. The circuit of claim 10, further comprising a sequence switching circuit, wherein each one of the plurality of vertical Hall elements comprises a respective group of vertical Hall element contacts coupled to the sequence switching circuit, wherein the sequence switching circuit is operable to select a first vertical Hall element at a first time and to select a second vertical Hall element at a second time.
 15. The circuit of claim 14, further comprising a chopping circuit, wherein each group of vertical Hall element contacts is multiplexed by the chopping circuit, wherein the chopping circuit is operable to couple different ones of the vertical Hall element contacts of each group of the vertical Hall element contacts to receive a respective current at a different time.
 16. A method, comprising: generating a plurality of sensor signals with a corresponding plurality of sensors; generating a plurality of control signals, wherein each control signal comprises a first state and a second different state at different times, wherein, at a first time, a first selected set of the plurality of control signals is in the first state and a second selected set of the plurality of control signals different than the first selected set is in the second state, and wherein, at a second different time, a third selected set of the plurality of control signals is in the first state and a fourth selected set of the plurality of control signals different than the third selected set is in the second state; generating, at the same time, a plurality of switching circuit output signals, wherein each switching circuit output signal is representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the plurality of sensor signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals, resulting in the plurality of switching circuit output signals being comprised of at least one switching circuit output signal representative of an inverted first one of the plurality of sensor signals and at least one switching circuit output signal representative of a non-inverted second different one of the plurality of sensor signals at the same time; and generating a summed output signal corresponding to a sum of the plurality of switching circuit output signals.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein a number of the plurality of control signals in the first set of control signals equals a number of the plurality of control signals in the third set of control signals, and wherein a number of the plurality of control signals in the second set of control signals equals a number of the plurality of control signals in the fourth set of control signals.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein numbers of the plurality of control signals in the first, second, third and fourth sets of control signals are approximately equal, and each are approximately half of a number of the control signals in the plurality of control signals.
 19. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of Hall elements, wherein the plurality of Hall elements provides an angle sensor, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 21. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of Hall elements disposed on a common substrate, wherein the plurality of Hall elements provides an angle sensor, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the generating the plurality of control signals, the generating the plurality of switching circuit output signals, and the generating the summed output signal are performed by circuits on the same common substrate.
 23. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors provides an angle sensor disposed upon a common substrate, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 24. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of vertical Hall elements disposed on a common substrate, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the generating the plurality of control signals, the generating the plurality of switching circuit output signals, and the generating the summed output signal are performed by circuits on the same common substrate.
 26. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged in a circular vertical Hall element (CVH) structure over a common implant region in a common substrate, and wherein the plurality of sensor signals is responsive to an angle of a direction of a magnetic field.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the generating the plurality of control signals, the generating the plurality of switching circuit output signals, and the generating the summed output signal are performed by circuits on the same common substrate.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein each one of the plurality of vertical Hall elements comprises a respective group of vertical Hall element contacts, the method further comprising selecting a first vertical Hall element at a first time and selecting a second vertical Hall element at a second time.
 29. The method of claim 28, further comprising multiplexing each group of vertical Hall element contacts, wherein different ones of the vertical Hall element contacts of each one of the groups of the vertical Hall element contacts is coupled to receive a respective current at a different time.
 30. The electronic circuit of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of sample and hold circuits coupled between the plurality of sensors and the plurality of switching circuits, wherein the plurality of sample and hold circuits is configured to sequentially sample and hold respective ones of the plurality of sensor signals.
 31. The method of claim 16, further comprising: sequentially sampling and holding the plurality of sensor signals to generate a plurality of sampled and held signals, wherein each switching circuit output signal is representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the sampled and held signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals. 